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Rep. Bradley jumps into 12th District scramble

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Illinois

State Rep. John Bradley (D-Marion) has entered his name for consideration in the 12th Congressional District race.

Applications from candidates interested in replacing Brad Harriman on the Democratic side of the ballot were due Friday. Harriman withdrew from the race after winning the spring primary due to medical reasons.

In a statement released Friday, Bradley said he had submitted an application “in order to continue the deliberations over what’s best for my children and our area.” […]

If Bradley is chosen by the Democrats – and if he chooses to then run – he would have his name removed from the race for the 117th District of the Illinois House of Representatives. Bradley is currently unopposed in seeking re-election to that seat. The Democratic Central Committee would then have to find a candidate to fill Bradley’s spot on that ballot.

* Meanwhile…

A caucus effort from his supporters has landed Kell school district Superintendent Christopher McCann on the Republican ballot for the 117th District state representative in November’s general election.

Illinois State Board of Elections filings show Christopher McCann’s candidacy effective and active beginning June 4.

He will oppose state Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, if the incumbent Bradley is not selected for the Democratic nominee in the 12th Congressional District race. Bradley is among at least five candidates who have submitted applications to a selection committee, with retiring U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Belleville, and Randolph County Circuit Clerk Barb Brown acting as co-chairs.

If Bradley is chosen, his name would be taken off the ballot and the state Democratic Central Committee in the 117th District would have until Aug. 23 to find a replacement.

* And the Illinois Republican Party has complaints about the way the 12th CD selection process is going…

Any of the 10 contenders can take part in the public interviews Saturday at the city hall in Chester, about 60 miles southeast of St. Louis, Brown said.

“Unless something happens, I think that vote would happen (Saturday) after the interviews are complete,” she told The Associated Press.

Brown again declined to disclose names of those seeking to succeed Costello, saying the candidates deserved to retain their privacy until making themselves public during the interviews.

“Clearly, it’s their option if they want to be public,” she said. “It’s the chairmen’s feeling that if the people haven’t put themselves out there, we wouldn’t. It really isn’t anything other than that.”

Brown said the process of finding Harriman’s replacement would be open and transparent. But the state’s GOP chief argued that’s been anything but the case.

“The selection committee has done a disservice to the voters of the 12th District by not releasing the number of applicants and their names,” Illinois Republican Party chairman Pat Brady said in a statement Tuesday. “Members of the committee have spoken about potentially having a candidate by the end of the month and how `quickly’ they think they will be able to select a nominee. When choosing a nominee for Congress, is quickly and secretly really in the best interest of the voters?”

Brown waved off such criticism, touting the openness of Saturday’s interviews and the belief “we’re being very respectful of the people putting themselves forward in this process.”

“We would never consider a vote for anyone unwilling to step forward before the public and the press,” she said. “None of us have been in this situation before. We’re trying to be careful and do it right.”

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 4:11 pm

Comments

And the circus drags on…

It would be nice to at least know who else has thrown their hats in the ring.

This is an interesting contrast to the 13th District, where the Republicans released the names of applicants as well as the names of the finalists. The candidates also spoke to a number of county organizations in the days before the vote. They even announced when and where they were meeting to select a candidate.

So much for transparency by Costello & Brown in the 12th.

Comment by Freeman Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 4:25 pm
Leaving it up to the individual applicants to decide–on their own–if they want to have their names disclosed to the press is entirely appropriate and considerate. The chairmen’s meeting place, date, and time has been released to the public. Presumably, those applicants who wish to be identified will be identified at the hearing and heard from for all the world to see and hear. If an applicant decides that he or she does not want to be interviewed and heard from at the public hearing, that applicant can just choose to not show up and be considered and he/she has maintained his/her confidentiality.Seems reasonable to me.

Comment by It's All Good Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 4:37 pm
Pretty rich the Illinois GOP is throwing stones at the Dems in the 12th after their shenanigans in the 13th.

Unfortunately not surprising.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 5:25 pm
It’s official. Pat Brady has no shame. This is the same IL GOP that just installed Pat Brady’s former employee on the ballot in the 13th over a more qualified black woman.

Comment by just sayin' Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 5:30 pm
I make no bones about the fact that I am an R, but Barb Brown is a very competent honest person. I would take her on my team anytime.

Comment by steve schnorf Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 5:57 pm
It’s a big decision to run for Congress as a Dem, where you’ll likely remain in the minority.

Unlike the Senate, House rules and a lockstep majority pretty much eliminate any influence by the minority party.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 7:26 pm
Bradley deserves a national stage, which he could pull off.

Comment by mark walker Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 9:49 pm
Bottom line enyart will be the candidate. Bradley is just there to look like they are transparent process. Done deal.

Comment by ironman Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 9:53 pm
Get your brooms out.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 10:11 pm
=Get your brooms out.=

I’m sorry, but can someone explain to me what that means generally and specifically within this context?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 10:14 pm
Everyone knows this nominee will come out of the Metro East. I feel like the committee tried to merely throw a bone to those outside of St. Clair and Madison counties by getting Rep. Bradley to submit his name for consideration. I think that was a bad move on their part. As many Southern Illinoisans as there are who really like John Bradley, there are many more who will only see this as another disenfranchisement by the political powers-that-be.

Comment by LN Wednesday, Jun 20, 12 @ 12:08 am
At least the Dem interviews will be open to the public. I called for the Republicans to do the same and they refused, having their interview session behind closed doors. Due to the Macon County Chairman, a political insider, casting the swing vote the Republicans in the 13th got the 3rd best choice selected when they could have had Erika Harold or Kathy Wassink. The Dems have closed the warm-ups and opened up the ballgame to the public. The Republicans opened up the warm-ups and are closing the stadium for the actual game where every word and action counts most.

Comment by Jon Zahm Wednesday, Jun 20, 12 @ 12:21 am
Unlike the Senate, House rules and a lockstep majority pretty much eliminate any influence by the minority party.

Funny stuff wordslinger. Do you know how many house bills are denied even a hearing in the Senate?

Comment by Hold Your Horses Wednesday, Jun 20, 12 @ 8:55 am
Nayek of the Jackson Senate seat purchase attempt got arrested by the Feds this morning.

Comment by amalia Wednesday, Jun 20, 12 @ 9:04 am
–Do you know how many house bills are denied even a hearing in the Senate?–

What’s your point? Mine was that being in the minority in the U.S. House gives you zero influence in that chamber. Is that incorrect?

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jun 20, 12 @ 9:21 am
They have to go with Enyart because he’s the only one who can beat Plummer by getting all of the Scott AFB-military vote. Harriman was always a seat warmer until they found a real candidate and Enyart would never have quit his job without knowing he’d be the nominee and next Congressional Representative. Experienced General vs. Rich punk kid = No surprises here, Enyart wins the seat. No was does a 29 year old rich kid who isn’t even old enough to have a conversation with beats a retired general. Plummer should have run against Shimkus, he’d have won the primary and the seat without breaking a sweat–everyone hates RINO Shimkus but won’t have a Democrat in the seat.

Comment by Connie Tea Wednesday, Jun 20, 12 @ 2:47 pm